Pediatric issues: Vesicoureteral Reflux and Enuresis Flashcards
What are the 2 sphincters of the bladder? Which is under voluntary control?
Internal and external sphincters - both must RELAX to empty the bladder
EXTERNAL is under voluntary control
What is the major muscle of the bladder?
Detrusor muscle (CONTRACTS to release urine)
The urothelium is…
a) permeable
b) impermeable
b) impermeable
The detrusor muscle is very rich in…
autonomic nervous sytem receptors
How does the SNS affect the bladder?
How does the PSNS affect the bladder?
SNS: Inhibit detrusor muscle contraction + close internal sphincter
PSNS: Contract detrusor muscle + open internal sphincter
Describe the external sphincter
Striated muscle under voluntary control (SNS).
Conscious opening (relaxation) or closing (contraction) allows us to control when/where we pee.
Two modes of operation of the bladder?
Storage and elimination (both under control of the central and peripheral nervous systems)
Urination is …
a) voluntary
b) involuntary
a) voluntary
(depends on learned behaviour that develops during maturation of nervous system)
How do infants void?
Infants void via spinal reflex pathways (ANS). Spontaneous detrusor contractions are triggered by bladder distention, while the internal and external sphincters relax.
What enables conscious control of voiding as a child ages?
Voiding reflex pathways come under control of higher cortical centres - detrusor contractions become consciously controlled.
Typically, adult voiding pattern (daytime) is assumed by…
4-5 years of age
Day and night continence is achieved by…
5-7 years of age
When do we start suspecting voiding dysfunction?
In children greater than 5 years of age with symptoms
Common symptoms of voiding dysfunction (11)
- Increased daytime frequency (>8 voids/day)
- Decreased daytime frequency (<3 voids/day)
- Pollakiuria (frequent small voids in previously toilet-trained child)
- Incontinence (uncontrolled leakage)
- Urgency (sudden & unexpected need to void)
- Nocturia (awakening at night to void)
- Hesitancy (difficulty to initiate voiding)
- Straining/Valsalva maneuver (abdominal wall pressure to initiate voiding)
- Weak/intermittent stream
- Holding maneuvers (to postpone/suppress urgency
- Postmicturition dribbling (leakage immediately after voiding)
3 categories of bladder dysfunction in children
neurogenic
anatomic
functional
Define bladder dysfunction (in children)
A condition that affects the ability to urinate normally. Can be caused by a variety of factors (neurogenic, anatomic and functional).
Neurogenic causes of voiding dysfunction (3)
- Spina bifida (congenital anomalies of spinal cord)
- Trauma to CNS or PNS
- Brain or spinal cord tumours
Anatomic causes of voiding dysfunction (4)
- Ectopic ureter bypasses external sphincter and inserts distal to the bladder neck
- Obstruction of bladder outlet (eg. posterior urethral valves in boys)
- Vesico-ureteric reflux
- Polyuria from renal failure